Dog Vomiting

Signs and Symptoms

Vomiting in dogs is quite common and might not be due to a critical medical condition or illness. However, it should never be overlooked. Dogs vomit when their stomach becomes very irritated or swollen, which is otherwise known as gastritis. If your dog has vomited, along with other symptoms, or the vomiting occurs often then you shouldn’t hesitate to take him or her to your veterinarian so that they can rule out any underlying issue.

What Causes Vomiting in Dogs?

The most prominent cause of dog vomiting is the consumption of something that will be irritable on their stomach. Some examples would be grass, contaminated foods or an inedible substance. Another common cause to an upset stomach is when a dog eats too rapidly or too much.

Furthermore, if they have just eaten a meal and are then taken out to exercise straight away, this could also make them vomit (very similar if we humans were to do the same thing). Make your dog wait at least a half an hour before allowing them to run about.

Here is a list of some of the more critical causes of dog vomiting:

• Canine Infectious Hepatitis
• Canine Distemper Virus
• Intestinal Obstruction
• Dog Kidney Disease
• Dog Liver Disease
• Nervous System Disease/Disorder
• Pancreatic Disease
• Poisoning
• Pharyngitis
• Shock
• Trauma
• Tumor
• Tonsillitis

When they have vomited, inspect the vomit to see if the cause can be visually identified. For example, if you see a piece of bone or grass then it is unlikely that the cause is a serious one. Go to the veterinarian immediately if your dog appears to be under any type of stress or discomfort, the vomit contains traces of blood or bile in it, if they have a fever or seem to be weak. If the vomiting is happening frequently, the veterinarian will look at the dog’s medical history; perform a routine checkup, x-ray and some laboratory tests.

Treatment For Dog Vomiting

Your veterinarian may suggest a change in diet if they believe that to be the cause and will probably offer some special foods for your dog to take home and sample. This might be a short term change or long term – again, your vet will be able to advise what is best for your dog’s particular needs. You could also temporarily change the diet at home, by giving them a little non-rich food. Try a bland diet of cooked chicken and rice (just let it cool before feeding them). If it is a minor case of vomiting such as after eating too rapidly or after exercise then you can help by reducing the size of the meals and spreading them out during the day. Give at least an hour or two before you take them out for exercise.

In the case that you feel it necessary to seek professional advice, try if you can to take a sample of the vomit with you to the vet clinic. If your dog is suffering from dehydration, they will receive fluids and in the case of an infection or poisoning they will receive an antibiotic. Just remember, it could be a non-serious bout of vomiting caused by over-eating, but it could also be something far more serious – just make sure to monitor your dog closely.